Appeal Court moves justices
Confirms elevation of Mary Odili, Kekere-Ekun
By Gbolahan Gbadamosi
Asst. Judicial Editor
A MAJOR redeployment of the nation's Court of Appeal justices was effected at the weekend.
The President of the Court, Justice Umaru Abdulahi, in a circular also confirmed the appointment of Justice Mary Odili, wife of the Rivers State governor, to the appellate court. Also elevated is Justice Kudirat Kekere- Ekun, wife of the Managing Director of Habib Bank. Justice Kekere-Ekun was formerly of the Lagos High Court.
Other newly-appointed justices are M. L. Garba, Uwani M. Abba Aji, Tijani Abdullahi and Jean Omokri.
The postings take effect from next month. In the new dispensation, Muhammad S. Muntaka-Coomassie has been appointed the presiding justice in Ilorin from his former base, Benin, while Dalhatu Adamu is the new head of the panel in Calabar.
With these postings, the presiding justice of the divisions are: Isa Ayo Salami (Lagos), Mahmud Mohammed (Kaduna), Raphel Olufemi Rowland (Ibadan), James Ogenyi Ogebe (Enugu) and Rabiu Danladi Muhammad (Benin).
The others are Justices Aloma Mariam Mukhtar (Jos), Sylvanus Adiewere Nsofor (Port-Harcourt), Ibrahim Tanko Muhammad (Abuja), Muntaka-Coomassie (Ilorin) and Adamu (Calabar).
In all, there are 10 divisions of the court in the country. They include Abuja, Lagos, Ibadan, Ilorin, Benin and Enugu. The others are in Port-Harcourt, Jos, Kaduna and Calabar.
The Jos division panel of Justices Mukhtar, Oludare Oladapo Obadina, Amiru Sanusi, Ifeyinwa Cecilia Nzeako and Ikechi F. Ogbuagu was, however, not affected by the re-shufflement. The Abuja panel of Muhammad, Zanaib Adamu Bulkachuwa and Albert Gbadebo Oduyemi is equally not affected save for the appointment of Justice Odili as a new member.
Joining the Lagos panel are Justices Salami from Kaduna, Kumai Bayang Akaahs (Benin), Walter S.N. Onnoghen (Ilorin). Justice M. Dattijo Muhammad is to retain his base. The other two members of six-man panel are Justices Clara Bata Ogunbiyi from Enugu and Garba.
With Justice Mohammed in Kaduna are Alkali Ba'Aba, Abubakar Abdulkadir Jega from Lagos, Stanley Shenko Alagoa and Kekere-Ekun.
Justice Rowland, as the presiding justice in Ibadan after the death of Justice Muri Okunola, will have Justice Okechukwu Opene from Calabar, Justices Saka Adeyemi Ibiyeye and F. F. Tabai to form a panel.
The Enugu panel comprises Justices Ogebe from Lagos, Suleiman Galadima also from Lagos, Olufunlola Oyelola Adekeye posted from Ibadan , Joseph Jeremiah Umoren of Kaduna and Jafaru Mika'ilu from Ilorin.
Justices Patrick Ibe Amaizu from Ilorin and Abba'Aji are to join Muhammad (presiding), Aminat A. Augie and Nwale Sylvester Ngwata at the Benin division.
The Port-Harcourt panel has five members, all from outside the state. They are Justice Nsofor (presiding) from Ilorin, Justice Victor Aimepomo O. Omage from Ibadan.
Justice Pius Olayiwola Aderemi (Lagos), while Justices John Afolabi Fabiyi and Monica Dongban-Mensah are from Enugu.
The newly-appointed presiding justice for the Ilorin division, Justice Muntaka-Coomassie who was with the Benin division, will form a panel with Justices Aboyi John Ikongbeh and David Adedoyin Adeniji both from Port-Harcourt and Abdullahi.
In Calabar with Adamu as presiding justice are Justice Christopher Chukwumah-Eneh from Lagos, Justice Istifanus Thomas who retains his base and Justice Jean Omokri.
The last time a similar exercise was conducted in the country was January 15, 2003.
